Chelsea completed football’s ‘most expensive substitution ever’ during defeat by Brighton
Chelsea made the ‘most expensive substitution ever’ during their Premier League defeat at home to Brighton – which leaves them in the bottom-half of the table.
Frank Lampard’s men slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Roberto De Zerbi inspired visitors – with the former Everton coach making a notable change just before the hour mark.
In the quadruple swap, Reece James, Joao Felix, Mateo Kovacic and Hakim Ziyech all entered the playing area – with some hugely expensive stars making way.
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With Raheem Sterling (£47.5m), Enzo Fernandez (£107m), Christian Pulisic (£57m) and Wesley Fofana (£70m) going off – their combined signing fees equal £281.5million.
With around £75m coming onto the pitch in total, £356.5m moving in the single pause in play might never be matched – with Chelsea going on to lose 2-1.
Lampard, who has lost all three games since his return as caretaker boss, was damning in his reaction to the performance as a whole.
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![Chelsea's English caretaker manager Frank Lampard (R) shakes hands with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder Enzo Fernandez (L) as he is substituted during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge in London on April 15, 2023.](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article29726103.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_GettyImages-1251846769.jpg)
(Image: Getty Images)
He said to BBC Sport: “I’ve been at the club nine days. I don’t like what I saw today. I’m not going to try to dress that up in any way. There should be a feeling when you play for Chelsea where you’re proud.
“To get there, there needs to be a new energy. That needs to come back. At the moment we’re not in the perfect place. In football you can change the story very quickly.
“We’ll have to have a big desire to do that (against Real) and it will be a different game. We have to energise the crowd.”
![LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Mateo Kovacic, Reece James and Joao Felix of Chelsea prepare to be substituted on during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge on April 15, 2023 in London, England.](https://i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk/incoming/article29726104.ece/ALTERNATES/s615b/1_GettyImages-1482418908.jpg)
(Image: Getty Images)
With Lampard in his role until the summer, the club are thought to be interested in both Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann for the full-time role.
Owner Todd Boehly was even seen talking to unhappy fans from his directors box during their most recent defeat, with Real Madrid up next.
Chelsea lost the first-leg 2-0 in Spain with Ben Chilwell dismissed, but Lampard has refused to rule out an unlikely comeback at Stamford Bridge.
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